Remember when the Colts lost to the Texans in the season opener and, then, to the Jaguars in Week 4? Remember when we thought that, especially after losing to a couple AFC South rivals, Indianapolis was in danger of not defending its title crown.

The Colts were 2-2 and in trouble. The Texans were finally ready to take over this division.

The way Indianapolis performed tonight in its rematch with Houston, though, those thoughts have quickly been put to rest. The Colts still are the favorites in the AFC South. The Texans still have plenty of work to do in order to make the postseason for the first time, and they’ll have to wait yet another season before they can hope to score their first win in the state of Indiana.

Indianapolis, with its 30-17 win against the Texans tonight, improved to 5-2 and took up residence in first place in the AFC South.

And how did the Colts do it? Like normal. With Peyton Manning, even with a number of starters hurting, making the offense run smoothly and with the defensive ends, particularly Dwight Freeney, eating alive the opposing quarterback.

Manning was 26 of 45 for 268 yards and two touchdowns, and he had some help from RB Mike Hart, replacing the injured Joseph Addai and starting over backup Donald Brown. Hart had 12 carries for 84 yards, and, oftentimes, looked electric. And despite missing TE Dallas Clark, placed on Injured Reserve last week, Manning showed good chemistry with TE Jacob Tamme, who caught six passes for 64 yards and a score.

"Whoever steps on the field with him, he finds a way to get them the football,” Houston coach Gary Kubiak said in the postgame news conference.

Meanwhile, Freeney had two sacks, and LB Clint Session was dominant in the middle of the field. And with the Texans driving late in the fourth quarter to try to make it a one-score game, Freeney, once again, beat Houston LT Duane Brown and strip-sacked Matt Schaub, forcing the fumble as the Colts recovered.

Sure, the Texans would have liked to run the ball more. Arian Foster was an absolute monster the last time these teams play, but Houston fell behind 14-0 early and needed to try to catch up immediately. Still, he finished with 102 yards on 15 carries (and caught nine passes for 65 yards).

Still, it clearly wasn’t enough. Still, the Colts clearly are the class of this division. Still, nothing has changed.

Only four days before the Colts meet up with the Texans on Monday, Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell still isn’t sure about his team’s running back situation.

Despite coming off a bye week, starter Joseph Addai still hasn’t practiced since injuring his shoulder in the Colts win against Washington two weeks ago, and backup RB Donald Brown, if he practices, would be limited at best.

Which means that Mike Hart likely will take first-team snaps for the time being – or until Addai can return.

Caldwell doesn’t know when that’ll happen.

“I’m not real sure,” Caldwell said, via the Indianapolis Star. “He’s a guy whose tolerance for pain is unusual. He’s one of those guys who can turn it around in a moment’s notice and he’s up and ready to go.

“It’s kind of a day-to-day situation. If he doesn’t go, obviously Mike Hart has to be the guy to step it up a little bit, and Javarris James will have to carry a few duties as well.”

LaCanfora says the injury could keep Addai out several weeks. Fortunately, the Colts have a bye this Sunday.

If Addai is unable to go, Indy may have to rely on Mike Hart. Last year’s first-round pick and backup running back Donald Brown did not travel with the team in Week 6 because of a hamstring injury.

Hart is a tough, compact runner, but he lacks breakaway speed and is limited in the passing game. If Clark is unavailable at tight end, it reasons that the Colts would, in some fashion, rely more on their running back. If they have a running back, that is.